In Italian, libero means “free,” and freedom was exactly what the international volleyball community had in mind when it devised a new position for the sport in 1998.

The game needed more zest beyond towering hitters drilling the ball to the floor, and the libero was introduced to be like a goalkeeper in soccer, even wearing a different color jersey. By international rules, the libero can't rise above the net to spike the ball or even serve.

It is the libero’s job to throw her body around the court, bumping passes to the setters and producing the game’s most spectacular defensive play, the dig. Playing in the spot requires athleticism, tenacity, a pinch of showmanship and a whole lot of flair.

“It’s amazing,” said San Diego State coach Deitre Collins-Parker, ”how that position can be such a game-changer.”

Kristi Jackels was born to be a libero.

The 5-feet-6 Aztecs senior would stand out on the court even if she weren’t wearing a black jersey at home when her teammates are in white. The former walk-on from Playa del Rey never stops moving, even when the ball does. After timeouts, she bounces around to every teammate to deliver high-fives. She must cover a couple miles per match on a court that is only 60 feet by 30 feet.

“I’m sure the other team is like, ‘What the heck is this girl doing? Every time? Let’s get real,’ “ Jackels said with a laugh before a practice this week. “I’m sure it looks ridiculous. But it’s fun, and it’s part of the game. You get into it. The only way you can compete is to put all of your focus into it.”

Jackels, 22, is far more than an athletic curiosity. Heading into a critical stretch of Mountain West matches that begins on Thursday at home (7 p.m.) against first-place Colorado State, she already has 328 digs for the season while moving into second place on the school’s all-time digs list with 1,693.

Jackels has been a vital part of a team that is 14-7 overall (5-3 in conference) and trying to achieve back-to-back 18-win seasons for the first time since 2002-03. The greater goal is capturing a conference title that would produce SDSU’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2001.

“The journey from freshman year to now has been so amazing,” Jackels said. “To walk on and think I just wanted to be a part of the team, to now being in my fifth season … I’m a captain and a starter. I never thought I’d be in this position.”

The last player remaining from the previous coaching regime, Jackels red-shirted her freshman year and didn’t know if she’d find a playing spot when Collins-Parker, a former U.S. Olympian, took over in 2009. But “Jax,” as her teammates call her, immediately impressed the coach with her spirit and work ethic. Jackels beat out a scholarship player and has been the starting libero the last four years.

“It’s such a passionate role,” Jackels said. “You’ve got to go for every ball, do what you can on the court. And you’ve got to be a ringleader of the team, bring everybody together.”

Liberos, Collins-Parker said, “are particularly feisty people. They’re usually a shorter person who has to prove themselves on a big court. They tend to have big personalities and stand out. It’s not only the physical part, but it’s what they bring emotionally to the floor.

“That’s what Jax brings more than anything. She’s the most trusted person on the team as far as knowing where her heart is.”

This season has been particularly challenging in that regard. Last spring, Jackels’ mother, Kathy, died after battling cancer for about eight months. Kathy Jackels’ enthusiasm was “Jax times 10,” Collins-Parker said. The mom attended most home matches and made ribbons for all of SDSU’s players to wear in their hair – a tradition her daughter carries on.

“Her mom was the most wonderful person to be around,” the coach said. “Knowing how much the team misses her, I can’t imagine what Jax is going through.

“There are times when it’s been really hard on her emotionally. It’s harder for her now to be herself. We’ve seen her have to fight and grow and mature.”

Collins-Parker dabbed away a tear.

“She is special,” she said. “She does everything she can to be with the team, which is awesome.”